Idle No More protest could draw hundreds of demonstrators

Victoria Rubio makes a sign in the OPIRG Resource Centre in Windsor on Tuesday, January 15, 2013. The signs are being made for the Idle No More protest that will take place near the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor on Wednesday. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)

Police and border officials are preparing for an Idle No More demonstration Wednesday in Windsor that could see a traffic slowdown on Highway 401, hundreds walking to the Ambassador Bridge and traffic disruptions at North America’s busiest international crossing.

Windsor police and Essex OPP both say they are prepared but aren’t giving details and can’t be certain what will take place.

“We expect it to be peaceful,” said Lorena Shepley, a Windsor participant who was waiting to make protest signs Tuesday night.

Andrea Landry makes a sign in the OPIRG Resource Centre in Windsor on Tuesday, January 15, 2013. The signs are being made for the Idle No More protest that will take place near the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor on Wednesday. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)

Shepley said she would be surprised if there were fewer than 1,000 participants, including First Nations people from London to Windsor and other activists and union members.

Shepley, who wants the federal government’s omnibus bill and its reduced water protection repealed, said the plan is not to go on the bridge. Although she said it is not a blockade, the Unity Walk and rally will likely slow down trucks and other vehicles trying to get on the bridge.

A flyer says the First Nations of Southwestern Ontario will gather at the Tilbury Highway 401 station at 9:30 a.m. and cars will travel to Windsor, expecting to be at Huron Church Road and Tecumseh Road at 11 a.m.

From there a Unity March is expected to start at 11:15 a.m. along Huron Church Road and move toward the Ambassador Bridge with a rally at Huron Church Road and College Avenue from noon until 1 p.m. The group is expected to head back on Huron Church Road at 1:15 p.m.

Windsor police Chief Al Frederick said his department has plans for the protest but wouldn’t divulge details, saying any police response would be dictated by the situation at the scene.

“We’re ready and we’re very well-prepared,” Frederick said Tuesday.

Mayor Eddie Francis, who chairs the local police board, said: “They’ve been planning this for two weeks … I have full confidence in the Windsor Police Service.”

Frederick said his officers are the first responders for any local situation requiring a police presence, but Francis questioned what, if any, federal resources might be available should there be a large-scale demonstration at Canada’s busiest international commercial crossing. “Where’s the RCMP?” said Francis.

Bridge company president Dan Stamper couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.

Officials at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel would not discuss their plans for Wednesday for safety reasons, president and CEO Neil Belitzky said. The tunnel cannot accommodate transport trucks because of size and customs limitations but can handle car traffic, he said.

A tweet from Essex County Prepare said both off ramps of the E.C. Row Expressway at Huron Church Road will be closed Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A flyer of the London District Chief’s Council talks of “peacefully and radically” changing the course the Canadian government has set. Some social media chatter talks about a commercial blockade.

Ron Plain, who was involved in the CN blockade in Sarnia, said in a Facebook posting the protest will “hit the economic engine of Canada by $125 million.” When contacted by phone Tuesday night, Plain declined comment. His Facebook page said thousands are expected in Windsor to walk to the Ambassador Bridge and hopes for 500 cars meeting in Tilbury that will drive at the slowest legal speed.

Essex County OPP Const. Stephanie Moniz said there is no minimum speed limit on the highway and couldn’t speculate what action police might take. OPP worked with organizers to prepare.

“We’re certainly going to be monitoring it. Our utmost concern is safety for everybody, the people involved in the event that’s going to be happening as well as other travelers,” Moniz said.

Sharon Hill and Doug Schmidt, The Windsor Star

Victoria Rubio makes a sign in the Opirg Resource Centre in Windsor on Tuesday, January 15, 2013. The signs are being made for the Idle No More protest that will take place near the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor on Wednesday. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)

Andrea Landry makes a sign in the Opirg Resource Centre in Windsor on Tuesday, January 15, 2013. The signs are being made for the Idle No More protest that will take place near the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor on Wednesday. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)

Victoria Rubio makes a sign in the Opirg Resource Centre in Windsor on Tuesday, January 15, 2013. The signs are being made for the Idle No More protest that will take place near the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor on Wednesday. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)

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